The Scalpel And Silver Bear

1. What barriers, challenges and opportunities (within the educational and medical system) impacted Alvord’s training as a medical doctor?   How did her personal journey impact the doctor she has become?  How has your journey impacted your career as a nurse/health care provider?

2. What specific environmental, political, economic and social realities impact Navajo health, susceptibilities to disease as described by Alvord?  What role do you think your client’s environmental, economic and social reality play in your patient’s/client’s health? Use examples as given in the book.

3. Given her unique perspective, what do you think Dr. Alvord contributes to the practice of biomedicine-Western Medicine? What does “hozho” mean and how does it impact Dr. Alvord’s practice of medicine? How does she uniquely combine her medical practice with the Navajo medical traditions and philosophies about health and patient care?  What philosophy about health drives your patient care?